First retrofitted electric truck homologated by Renault Trucks in France

Renault Trucks has received French road homologation for a 12-tonne Renault D truck retrofitted with a battery electric powertrain. The conversion was completed at the end of last year with Novumtech and funding from the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (Ademe). 

The retrofitted D truck will be leased through Clovis Grand Paris to the Paris Airport duty-free store operator, Extime. Since Renault has become the first manufacturer in France to receive approval for this process, the company is now assessing the viability to offer this service to customers. 

Laurent Colpier, vice president of used trucks and urban logistics at Renault Trucks said: "The use of this vehicle in real operational conditions will enable us to validate the economic viability and robustness of the electric retrofit solution. This pilot project exemplifies our dedication to preserving natural resources while minimizing the environmental impact of vehicle usage. The truck perfectly embodies the circular economy approach that we champion at Renault Trucks.”

In total, the retrofit and approval process took two years to complete. After the mechanics of the vehicle were changed to accommodate the electric drivetrain, the truck underwent extensive testing at UTAC. The technical approval body assessed electromagnetic compatibility to meet the R100 standard and checks to validate the braking system. 

Once the vehicle completed a programme of physical testing, reports of the findings were submitted to the environmental agency, the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes DREAL. Finally, in November 2024, Renault Trucks received confirmation that the truck is approved for road use. 

In Extime’s fleet, the retrofitted truck will move goods between warehouses and the airport. The truck has a range of 250km and the cost of a retrofitted electric truck is approximated to be around 15% lower than a new electric truck. The implementation of this vehicle into a working fleet will help Renault to evaluate further applications for retrofitted vehicles and the environmental and economic benefits of this solution.